MP Garo Paylan Demands Freedom of Worship for Minorities in Turkey

ISTANBUL (Armenpress) — Turkish-Armenian Garo Paylan, a member of the Turkish Parliament as a representative of the People’s Democratic Party, defended the right to freedom of worship for religious minorities in the country, during the regular session of parliament.

Demokrathaber.net reported that Paylan last week accused the Turkish authorities of infringing upon the rights to worship of Christians and other minorities.

“We all, including me, pay taxes, Christians, Muslims, Alevis, everybody professing some religion pay taxes. But the Directorate for Religious Affairs serves only one religion and one sect of it,” he said.

He referred also to the comments of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has said previously that “he wishes for a religious society.” Paylan inquired why, in that case, are religious schools not opened.

“This means Christians have no right to be religious? Why? Why should the religious school of the Armenian Patriarchate be closed?” he asked.